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Labor is expensive. Maybe they can’t front the money to renovate them so people could live there.

Interest rates are high. Maybe no one is willing to buy and renovate those lots because the cost of acquiring enough capital to do so is prohibitive.

There can be lots of reasons why houses sit vacant. I don’t think we should assume ill intent.

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These buildings have been vacant for years and a few of them are on the market for an absurd price. I don't think they have ill intent. I'm sure in their mind what could be ill intentioned about waiting for someone to pay them the right price? Doesn't mean there aren't very real consequences for letting these buildings sit empty.

In that case: They should sell the units so other people can utilize it.

In large parts of Scandinavia there is an obligation to have residents in an apartment. The only legal reason not to have an apartment occupied is that it is for sale, or on the market for finding a renter (within the market price).

IMHO there is absolutely no reason to let units stay empty for any longer than what normal resident churn mandate.

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